Equality and Diversity Policy

 
Primary Responsibility Church Secretary
   
Issued January 2021
Status Agreed
Review Period 3 years
Next Review Date January 2024
 
DISTRIBUTION
Original Church Office
Copy Minister
Copy Trustees
 If printed this document is UNCONTROLLED
  1. Purpose and Scope
 
1.1  The purpose of this procedure is to ensure the Church meets its vision to be a place of welcome to all.
 
  1. To ensure that there is no discrimination in any area of church life, and to fulfil our obligations under the Equality Act 2010.
 
 
  1. Policy Statement
 
Wymondham Baptist Church is committed to a Biblical approach to Equality. This means our primary guide as to how we treat staff, members, volunteers and visitors is the Bible, and secondarily, all applicable laws.
 
In accordance with the Bible and the law, we will seek to prevent any discrimination by church staff, members, volunteers or guests within the church against any person in any way, whether in our employment or treatment of individuals, based on any of the protected characteristics.
 
The Equality Act 2010 makes it illegal to discriminate against anyone based on any of the following ‘protected characteristics’:
  • Age
  • Disability
  • Gender reassignment
  • Race
  • Religion or belief
  • Sex
  • Sexual orientation
  • Marriage and civil partnership
  • Pregnancy and maternity
 
For types of discrimination and our procedures for dealing with inequality, please refer to Pt. 3 and 4
 
  1. Types of Discrimination
 
3.1  Direct Discrimination
Direct discrimination occurs when someone is treated less favourably than another person because of a protected characteristic they have or are thought to have or because they associate with someone who has a protected characteristic.
  1. Indirect Discrimination
 
Indirect discrimination can occur when you have a condition, rule, policy or even a practice that applies to everyone but particularly disadvantages people who share a protected characteristic.
Indirect discrimination can be justified if you can show that you acted reasonably in managing your business, i.e. that it is `a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim´. A legitimate aim might be any lawful decision you make in running your business or organisation, but if there is a discriminatory effect, the sole aim of reducing costs is likely to be unlawful.
Being proportionate really means being fair and reasonable, including showing that you´ve looked at `less discriminatory´ alternatives to any decision you make.
 
3.3    Discrimination by Association
This is direct discrimination against someone because they associate with another person who possesses a protected characteristic.
 
       3.4   Perception Discrimination
This is direct discrimination against an individual because others think they possess a particular protected characteristic. It applies even if the person does not actually possess that characteristic.
 
   3.5   Victimisation
Victimisation occurs when an employee or volunteer is treated badly because they have made or supported a complaint or raised a grievance under the Equality Act; or because they are suspected of doing so.
An employee or volunteer is not protected from victimisation if they have maliciously made or supported an untrue complaint. There is no longer a need to compare treatment of a complainant with that of a person who has not made or supported a complaint under the Act.
 
3.6    Harassment
Harassment is "unwanted conduct related to a relevant protected characteristic, which has the purpose or effect of violating an individual's dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that individual”.
Employees and volunteers will now be able to complain of behaviour that they find offensive even if it is not directed at them, and the complainant need not possess the relevant characteristic themselves.  Employees and volunteers are also protected from harassment because of the perception and association.
 
 
  1. Procedure
 
4.1  We will work with group leaders to ensure they are aware of our desire to welcome and support all, and that they feel supported in putting this into practice.
4.2  At least every three years we will undertake an audit of our groups and activities to ensure that there is equality of opportunity for involvement in church life.
4.3  If it is discovered that there is any form of discrimination based on one of the protected characteristics (see policy) in any of the church’s activities, this should be reported to the trustees who will investigate the cause and take reasonable measures to rectify the issue.
4.4  All church employees and volunteers will be given equality training to ensure they are aware of their responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010.
4.5  At least every three years we will undertake an audit of our physical environment and main activities to:
  • identify areas where reasonable adjustments could enable greater participation
  • assess the effectiveness of adjustments previously made.
 
  1. Accessibility
 
5.1 When commissioning new or altered building works we will explore how they can meet best practice for inclusion.
 
5.2 We will seek to provide worship material in a variety of ways - for example in large    
print, on the website and through an induction loop.
 
5.3 We will ensure that our buildings and facilities are fully accessible to meet disability needs.  We undertake as far as we are able to respond to any reasonable request for premises and facilities adaptations to meet disability needs.
 
Record of amendments
Date Revised pages Details of revision
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   

 
 
 
 
 

Cathy Finch, 13/02/2021